Isaac Kosgei emerged victorious in the first Nairobi 10km slums talent search race held on Sunday (22) at Kabete Technical Institute in the outskirts of the Kenyan capital with a wide margin in a meeting sponsored by marathon runner Isaac Macharia.
Kosgei paced himself well in the circular route along the main Nairobi,/Nakuru highway to a 30:12 clocking after breaking away from the leading pack of 27 athletes.
Having mastered the road condition and aided by the cool weather, Kosgei who trains with leading Kenyans marathoners from the nearby Ngong Hills proceeded to win with a margin of more than 30 seconds ahead of Joseph Ngari (30:41.7).
But in victory, Ngari had to produce an amazing fast pace in the last 200 metres to beat third placed Josiah Nderitu (30:59.6).
Kosgei said he was preparing for the more competitive KCB/Athletics Kenya third weekend meeting on Saturday also in Nairobi which is part of Kenya’s preparation for next year’s IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
Macharia, winner of the Nagano Marathon and Costa Rica half provided cash incentives to junior and senior athletes on top of providing them with training kit. He has teamed up with other athletes for frequent slums talent search races in Nairobi eight administrative districts.
Nairobi which is home to 4 million people is developing an athletics culture among the poor who live in informal settlements.
Peter Njenga for the IAAF
Leading Results -
1. Isaac Kosgei, 30:12.0
2. Joseph Ngari, 30:47.1
3. Josiah Nderitu, 30:59.6
4. Francis Taraiya, 31:09.5
5. Christopher Makau, 32:02.0
6. Joseph Gitau, 32:33.6
7. Stephen Mulwa, 33:19.5
8. Kenneth Kamakya, 33:21.8
9. Gideon Punyua, 34:25.1
10. Fred Nyangena, 34:43.5
Kosgei paced himself well in the circular route along the main Nairobi,/Nakuru highway to a 30:12 clocking after breaking away from the leading pack of 27 athletes.
Having mastered the road condition and aided by the cool weather, Kosgei who trains with leading Kenyans marathoners from the nearby Ngong Hills proceeded to win with a margin of more than 30 seconds ahead of Joseph Ngari (30:41.7).
But in victory, Ngari had to produce an amazing fast pace in the last 200 metres to beat third placed Josiah Nderitu (30:59.6).
Kosgei said he was preparing for the more competitive KCB/Athletics Kenya third weekend meeting on Saturday also in Nairobi which is part of Kenya’s preparation for next year’s IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
Macharia, winner of the Nagano Marathon and Costa Rica half provided cash incentives to junior and senior athletes on top of providing them with training kit. He has teamed up with other athletes for frequent slums talent search races in Nairobi eight administrative districts.
Nairobi which is home to 4 million people is developing an athletics culture among the poor who live in informal settlements.
Peter Njenga for the IAAF
Leading Results -
1. Isaac Kosgei, 30:12.0
2. Joseph Ngari, 30:47.1
3. Josiah Nderitu, 30:59.6
4. Francis Taraiya, 31:09.5
5. Christopher Makau, 32:02.0
6. Joseph Gitau, 32:33.6
7. Stephen Mulwa, 33:19.5
8. Kenneth Kamakya, 33:21.8
9. Gideon Punyua, 34:25.1
10. Fred Nyangena, 34:43.5
